Over 30 trade-association led campaigns promoting everything from olive oil to fresh meat have been named the recipients of the latest round of EU funding for agri-food products.
The revised European Union novel foods regulation will stimulate innovation and give consumers more sustainable, affordable food choices, says industry trade group, FoodDrinkEurope.
With over 1000 companies exhibiting at Food Ingredients Europe in Paris from 1 to 3 December, FoodNavigator takes a sneak preview at just some of the companies that will be there and the products they will be showcasing.
By Ewa Hudson, head of health and wellness research at Euromonitor International
Is organic still selling? Does the 'natural' trend mean fortified/functional food is now passé? And why are consumers turning their noses up at better for you (BFY) offerings? Ewa Hudson, head of health and wellness research at Euromonitor International,...
Acacia gum seems to have it all – manufacturers say it’s clean-label, organic, sustainably sourced and provides income in developing countries. So why is industry not doing more to promote this?
Food produced in Israeli-occupied territories, considered illegal under international law, must be clearly labelled as such in EU countries - a decision that has provoked strong opposition from Israel.
Stevia extracted from the leaf can be scaled up to compete with other methods – and is more in line with consumer perceptions of stevia’s naturalness, say researchers and industry.
Novozymes has launched a tool to quickly detect the lactose content of milk, allowing producers in emerging markets without costly lab equipment to tap into the free-from trend.
Using a unique manufacturing process, Dutch food technologists have developed a plant-based protein that can match the texture of steak and is the most sustainable of all meat alternatives, they say.
Dutch food group Wessanen has reported strong Q3 results which it puts down to a consumer shift away from ‘Big Food’ towards healthy and sustainable food.
With consumer interest in health and specialty oils growing, FoodNavigator takes a look at the positioning of superfood newcomers and well-established favourites in Europe.
When it comes to evaluating the naturalness of food products, very few consumers consider on pack ingredient information, finds Unilever commissioned research.
EFSA cannot rule out that the food additive octyl gallate (E311) may cause cancer due to a lack of data, it said in a safety review published last week.
Global demand for MSG is set to rise, but can the additive shake off its negative health associations in Europe - and if not, does that mean a gap in the market for MSG-free umami seasoning?
The Soil Association is updating its organic standards to make them more practical and transparent and is calling on the public to give its opinion in an open consultation.
Food labelling and ethical certification aren’t as effective as we think - for a sustainable food chain, small and medium businesses need to team up with social scientists to create ‘attentive consumption’ and transform the supply chain, say participants...
The global market for natural food colors is predicted to reach $1.7bn by 2020, with 20% of this market attributed to beverage applications. Analysts Iti Singh and Indu Tyagi, from research firm MarketsandMarkets, look at the opportunities for beverage...
Glanbia Nutritionals has expanded beyond its dairy roots to add pea, chia and flax protein concentrates to its portfolio to meet growing demand for vegan protein, says business development manager Vicky Fligel, who caught up with us for our special edition...
Protein ingredients are facing major challenges in developed markets, with stagnation in technical applications and uncertainty over health and sports markets, according to a report from Giract.
Industry says origin labelling is too expensive and would reduce competitiveness but one German company is listing the origin of all its ingredients voluntarily – and the costs are marginal, it says.
An Italian bill will require companies to say where a product was produced and packaged, meaning greater transparency for consumers, says government - but industry has slammed it as backdoor protectionism that violates EU law.
British Sugar has withdrawn a UK advert for Truvia which claimed sweetener was natural - despite having paid out €5m in a US court for the same claim two years ago.
One fifth of Brits believes free-from foods are healthier than normal foods while the same number believes they are higher in fat, salt and sugar. But why is this and what should companies do?
Frutarom has acquired 79% of Spanish firm Nutrafur in a €10.3 m sale which will help the company develop its portfolio of natural plant extracts for food preservation, says Frutarom.
Swiss biotechnology firm Evolva has introduced its nootkatone citrus flavour and fragrance ingredient – made from fermentation rather than traditional extraction from grapefruit skin.
Sustainability isn't one size fits all. Some consumers buy sustainable products while others curb consumption of less sustainable foods, say researchers.
Mounting scientific evidence and a shift in public opinion could mean fructose is set to follow the same black-listed fate as trans fats, argues an analyst.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has begun its crack down on the misleading use of terms ‘artisan’, ‘farmhouse’, ‘traditional’ and ‘natural’ following complaints from artisan companies – but enforcement will be a challenge.
Consumers and industry have embraced the mid-calorie concept in drinks and are starting to look at its relevance in other product categories, according to stevia supplier PureCircle.
Naturex has developed a water-soluble, non-migrating red colour that is carmine-free – responding both to customer demands for two-layered colour solutions in dairy and consumer demands for clean label.
Asian consumers are fuelling demand for clean labels and natural colourings - and will bolster a trend that has been dominated by western Europeans until now, a 5000-strong global survey has found.
Commercial foraging is on the rise, influencing mainstream flavour trends and giving companies a sense of heritage, say market analysts - but is it as eco-friendly as it seems?
Supplier Sunsweet claims its plum ingredients could present a pathway to cleaner labels as safety concerns over caramel colors prompt confectionery manufacturers to look explore alternatives.
British meat has been found to contain MRSA and consumers are concerned. So would an antibiotic-free label reassure the public, or are there already enough ethical food labels?
Danish ingredients firm Chr Hansen claims it has produced carmine through fermentation, meaning a cheaper, vegetarian, halal and kosher version of the natural red colouring could be just a few years from commercial use.
At a time when consumer demand for natural ingredients is growing rapidly, researchers suggest that that the use of enzyme technologies to produce the natural taste enhancer divanillin may hold promise.
The trend toward raw foods is being driven by a growing group of consumers looking for ‘clean food’ – not just those who consider themselves raw foodists, says Teresa Havrlandova, founder of raw food firm Lifefood.
Public health is being compromised as the European Commission bows to the pressure of lobbies and is divided by internal power struggles over toxic endocrine disrupting chemicals, claims a report.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has published guidance for food companies to ensure consumers are not misled by terms such as ‘natural’, ‘artisan’, ‘traditional’ and ‘farmhouse’.
Functional beverages are now less about fortification, and more about honing in on the natural health benefits of their ingredients, according to Innova Market Insights.
With no ingredient or species information required for processed fish products, seafood fraud in Europe is prevalent – so why is EU legislation failing to protect consumers?
The organic sector has cultivated a culture of ethical awareness among consumers that conventional manufacturers are now cashing in on – and new product development is vital for the sector to retain its value, say experts.
